Bret Michaels Says Poison’s Fights Were Always About Music

Bret Michaels has insisted that even though he regularly fought with his Poison bandmates in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the disagreements were always about their music, and were never personal.

The original lineup -- featuring Michaels, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall and drummer Rikki Rockett -- is currently touring with Def Leppard. It’s their first U.S. road trip since 2012, after Michaels’ solo career interests had made it seem as if a reunion couldn’t be arranged.

And now that all four men are in their fifties, the fighting is behind them. “We’ve all knocked the s--- out of each other – but a day later we’re in the same room, working this s--- out,” Michaels told Rolling Stone. “Our arguments were never about whose bus is closer to backstage. They were always over songs in the set and stuff like that. Except for one big one with C.C., where we were belligerent drunk and I was smelling of whiskey and bad decisions.”

Poison remain on the road until the end of June, but not even the band members know what’s in store afterward. “If it takes me four years to get Bret to agree to play a tour, you never know if there’s going to be another one," Dall said. "It’s gotten so hard to just get it done.”

Dall admitted that Michaels had upset his colleagues when he began performing Posion songs as part of his solo sets. “If I’m being honest, I think it would bother anybody," the bassist said. "And if anybody in the band tells you otherwise, I’d think they’re lying.”

“There’s no malicious reason I do it," Michaels countered. "It’s just in addition to what I do with Poison. You don’t get to stay here for 30 years by accident. I’m comfortable in my own skin.”

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